Living backwards

by Richard Bellars

“Life can only be understood backwards; but must be lived forwards” ~ Soren Kierkegaard

What if we could project forwards in our lives, to imagine a time of peaceful fulfillment and gratitude, looking back on the range of rich experiences that got us there, and then return to the present to step forward in every moment of ‘now’ to live that life with clarity and confidence?

In The Future – Looking Back

It was Midwinter and midnight. The fire burned with an eerie light. He sat with thoughtful pipe and saw the future looking back.

He listened when I spoke and comforted when I sighed. Together we watched that ice-borne morning tide.

Our eyes were heavy, staring wide as we looked beyond that morning tide to a world not yet seen not laughed nor cried to the future looking back.

The hands of the clock held breath pausing, fearing the death of day and morning came with the wind to steal today away.

The future had been planned and cast laughter echoed and tears hung fast and morning came with future’s bless to wipe our fears away.

And that howling wind and cackling sleet meant years would pass before we meet to another dawn of gentler mood – in the future looking back.